To establish a network the following hardware is required.
NIC (Network Interface Card), Switch, Repeater, Bridge, Router
NIC Card
Network interface card is use to connect the computer with the network, if you want that your network work fast then always purchase NIC Card that support high speed.
Ethernet Card
If you design a network you need Ethernet Cards, so that your computers may connect with the network cables, many companies offer built-in LAN cards in computer but many did not, so you will purchase it, there are different type of cables used in network so you must first determined which particular card you required for your network connection, such as if you have Coaxial in your network then you require BNC (British Novel Connector), but if you have STP TP Cables, then you require RJ-45 connector, and for that RJ-45 connector you need that particular Ethernet Card, There are Ethernet Cards built for both types of cables.
Bridge
If you have a large network and want to segment it into two, then bridge is the best option to you. A bridge is helpful if you want to join your old networks with old cables and want to join it with your new one, bridge also monitors the both side of network traffic, and can manage it and send data to the right destination, a bridge can automatically store the addresses of computers (each) on both segments, even a bridge can monitor messages and send them to other segments if necessary.
A bridge can manage network traffic of both segments in a way that it avoid un-necessary and provide your best network performance, it also support different topologies at the same time, support different types of cabling at the same time, but its necessary that you have same protocols in each network.
Switch
Switch is used in start topology or in a tree topology, they are also called hub, they are configured with 8, 12, or 24, Rj-45 Ports, where twisted-pair cables is installed, there are two types of switches active and passive, active switches boost up the singles, while the passive switches did not. Switches remember the addresses of each computer in the network and send data directly to the targeted computer.
Repeater
When the length of cable increases the signal became weak which may cause lost of data, or interruption in communication, a device called Repeater is used to boost up these weak signals, for example if you are using UTP cable, the maximum length of this cable is 100 meters and after 100 meters the signals will be weak, so in that case you must install Repeater after 100 meters so that the repeater can regenerate your weak signals.
Router
Router is use to route the network traffic on its shortest way, from the sender computer to the destination, router is also use for translating information of one network to others networks. Router also figures out your networks that which part of your network is busy, router know about the addresses of each computer, bridge, and routers on your network. Routers send your data on that section of your network in which you have less traffic. Routers send data on different topologies such as star wire ring, bus and star etc, it also send data on networks using different types of cables such as twisted pairs, coaxial, fiber optics, it also send data on networks using different protocols.
NIC (Network Interface Card), Switch, Repeater, Bridge, Router
NIC Card
Network interface card is use to connect the computer with the network, if you want that your network work fast then always purchase NIC Card that support high speed.
Ethernet Card
If you design a network you need Ethernet Cards, so that your computers may connect with the network cables, many companies offer built-in LAN cards in computer but many did not, so you will purchase it, there are different type of cables used in network so you must first determined which particular card you required for your network connection, such as if you have Coaxial in your network then you require BNC (British Novel Connector), but if you have STP TP Cables, then you require RJ-45 connector, and for that RJ-45 connector you need that particular Ethernet Card, There are Ethernet Cards built for both types of cables.
Bridge
If you have a large network and want to segment it into two, then bridge is the best option to you. A bridge is helpful if you want to join your old networks with old cables and want to join it with your new one, bridge also monitors the both side of network traffic, and can manage it and send data to the right destination, a bridge can automatically store the addresses of computers (each) on both segments, even a bridge can monitor messages and send them to other segments if necessary.
A bridge can manage network traffic of both segments in a way that it avoid un-necessary and provide your best network performance, it also support different topologies at the same time, support different types of cabling at the same time, but its necessary that you have same protocols in each network.
Switch
Switch is used in start topology or in a tree topology, they are also called hub, they are configured with 8, 12, or 24, Rj-45 Ports, where twisted-pair cables is installed, there are two types of switches active and passive, active switches boost up the singles, while the passive switches did not. Switches remember the addresses of each computer in the network and send data directly to the targeted computer.
Repeater
When the length of cable increases the signal became weak which may cause lost of data, or interruption in communication, a device called Repeater is used to boost up these weak signals, for example if you are using UTP cable, the maximum length of this cable is 100 meters and after 100 meters the signals will be weak, so in that case you must install Repeater after 100 meters so that the repeater can regenerate your weak signals.
Router
Router is use to route the network traffic on its shortest way, from the sender computer to the destination, router is also use for translating information of one network to others networks. Router also figures out your networks that which part of your network is busy, router know about the addresses of each computer, bridge, and routers on your network. Routers send your data on that section of your network in which you have less traffic. Routers send data on different topologies such as star wire ring, bus and star etc, it also send data on networks using different types of cables such as twisted pairs, coaxial, fiber optics, it also send data on networks using different protocols.
